Ring-forming tool.



J. MERRITT. RING FORMING TOOL. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1912.

Patented July 22, 1913.

Witnesses= Inventor:-

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JOSEPH MERRITT, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

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To all whom it may concern Be it known that T, JosErH MERRITT, acitizenof the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartfordand State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement inRing- Forming Tools, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a tool which is designed to form opened linksor rings into closed links or rings.

The tool illustrated is particularly adapted for putting together andclosing locked rings, although it may be used to form many other typesof rings which are to be employed independently or to link togetherother links or rings.

The object of the invention is to provide a very simple, cheap, andeasily manipulated tool which may be used to close tightly the openedends of ring or link blanks and form the blanks into perfectly shapedrings or links which are independent or which join other links or rings.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings shows a side view of a tool whichembodies this invention. Fig. 2 shows an edge view of the same. Fig. 3shows on larger scale a view of the jaw end with a portion of one jawbroken away, this view illustrating the manner of forming a locked ringfrom a tubular shell and solid core. Fig. 4 shows a central longitudinalsection of the jaws closed upon a ring that connects other rings orlinks of a chain. Fig. 5 shows on still larger scale a plan of one ofthe jaws. Fig. 6 shows a transverse section of the jaw shown in Fig. 5,on the plane indicated by the dotted line 66.

The jaws 1 of the tool shown are formed so as to face toward each otheron the inner sides near the ends of levers 2 that are pivotally heldtogether by the stud 3. These levers are provided with manipulatinghandles 4 of such length that sufiicient leverage can be obtained forthe purpose of bringing the jaws together with power enough to giveshape to the ring or link and tightly close the ends. Each of the jawsshown has a semi-circular opening with a corresponding semi-circulargroove 5 in its face, this shape forming lips 6, one at each side of thejaw at the ends of the groove. These grooves are rounded in crosssection, as shown in Fig. 6. When the tool is in use, the lips cometogether so as to form a closed die with a cir- Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed June as, 1912.

Patented July 22, 1913.

Serial No. 706,405.

cular opening and containing a substantially annular groove that isractically se1ni-cir cular in cross section.

The tool illustrated is particularly designed for assembling the membersof and forming said members into a closed and locked ring. Such a ringcomprises a tubular blank 7 that is substantially U-shaped before itsends are closed, and a staple with tapering ends which is forced intothe blank. As the ends of the tube are closed into ring shape the stapleconforms to the interior and forms a solid core inside, as shown in Fig.4. It is essential that the die for shaping these members be closed,that is, that the lips shall come together and back up the ring allaround in order to insure the proper configuration for the ring. It isalso essential, particularly when such a locked ring as is shown isformed, that the circular grooves which give the outline to the ringshould be round in cross section in order to prevent distortion when thestaple is forced in and the ends of the ring are brought together.

The tool illustrated is adapted to be used for forming and closing theends of very small rings designed to be used as the links of a chain, orfor joining together other rings or links. To accomplish this, as abovestated, it is necessary that the lips come together so as to form aclosed die which will give the correct shape and prevent distortion ofthe ring, and it is further necessary that these lips, which must cometogether, shall be of such shape that they will pass through the ringsor links which are to be joined, as illustrated in Fig. 4. Therefore,the jaws are arranged on the inner edges of the levers and are shaped sothat they, when closed, come together practically the same as if one wasreciprocated toward the other in a straight line. This requires the jawsto be formed on the inner opposing edges of the ends of the levers, andthat they project toward each other so as to provide space inside of thejaws for the link or links that are to be joined with the link or linkson the outside of the jaws by the closing of a ring.

The invention claimed is:

1. A ring forming tool comprising pivoted members which terminate inprojections that form abutting jaws, said jaws being transversely andlongitudinally grooved to provide a ring-shaped cavity between them whenclosed, and having the abutting portions of restricted area whereby theymay when closed around a ring enter the adjacent rings of a chain,substantially as ing transversely and longitudinally grooved to providea ring-shaped cavity between them when closed, the abutting port-ions ofthe jaws being of less cross-sectional area than the diameter of thering cavity, whereby when closed around the ring they may enter theadjacent rings of a chain, substantially as set forth.

3. A ring forming tool having jaws mounted to open from and closeagainst each other, said jaws having transverse and longitudinal grooveswhich provide a ringshaped cavity when the jaws are together,

the abutting portions of the jaws being of less cross-sectional areathan the diameter of the ring cavity, whereby when closed around a ringthey may enter the adjacent rings of a chain, substantially as setforth.

4. A ring forming tool having jaws mounted to open from and closeagainst each other, said jaws having transverse and longitudinal grooveswhich-provide a ringshaped cavity when the jaws are together,

and the abutting portions of the jaws being of restricted area andconforming in -cr0Sssection to the cross-section of the ring cavity,whereby when closed around a ring they may enter the adjacent of achain, substantially as set tor-11h.

JOSEPH MERRITT. Witnesses: EDWARD H. LORENZ,

CHARLOTTE S. HULL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained .for five cents each, byasliressi-ng the flommissioner of Patents,

Washington, 1). 0;

